'Voice Brasil' winner thrives in his US home turf

Saturday

Mar 8, 2014 at 8:46 AMMar 9, 2014 at 1:05 PM

At one point, Sam Alves worked at the Solomon Pond Mall. On Friday night, he practically owned the place, at least in the hearts and minds of adoring, mostly female fans who waited patiently in line and squealed in delight whenever the curly-haired crooner sang one of his signature songs.

By Craig S. Semon TELEGRAM & GAZETTE

MARLBORO — At one point, Sam Alves worked at the Solomon Pond Mall.

On Friday night, he practically owned the place, at least in the hearts and minds of adoring, mostly female fans who waited patiently in line and squealed in delight whenever the curly-haired crooner sang one of his signature songs.

Mr. Alves is "The Voice Brasil." He is also cute in a wholesome way. On top of that, he can truly sing and hit spine-tingling high notes one would never guess could come from his slim frame.

On Dec. 26, Mr. Alves won the second season of "The Voice Brasil." He received 43 percent of the 29 million votes cast by viewers. In addition to a cash prize, he received a recording contract with Universal Music.

The Brazilian-born, U.S.-raised Mr. Alves was a resident of Clinton for the 12 years prior to his big win, but he now lives in Rio de Janeiro. He studied at Worcester State University before going on tour and then back to his native Brazil.

Mr. Alves said he likes romantic songs and wants to get into R&B, pop and alternative rock. He said he has plans for an international career and crossing over into the U.S. market and, subsequently, all over the world.

If Friday was any indication, he is off to a promising start.

Last April, he was featured in the blind auditions but was unable to move forward on the American version of "The Voice." However, his rendition of Bruno Mars' "When I Was Your Man" at the blind auditions for "The Voice Brasil" made all four judges turn their chairs in support. Not only did he pass the blind audition, he had the four celebrity judges fighting to be his coach. He chose Brazilian pop singer Claudia Leitte.

After his blind audition, which aired Oct. 10, Mr. Alves saw every song he performed, some of which he performed at the Solomon Pond Mall, hit No. 1 on the iTunes Brazil charts overnight.

In a four-year span prior to his overnight success, Mr. Alves said he worked at three spots in the mall (Brookstone, Bertucci's and Bank of America). During a press conference before his meet-and-greet Friday, he said he has no intention of asking for any of his old jobs back.

"It's strange to come back to where I used to work," he said. "It's really insane."

Already considered a positive role model, pop pinup and crowd favorite in the Brazilian community in Massachusetts, Mr. Alves said the best thing about winning "The Voice Brasil" is having the opportunity to perform music for a living. The worst thing, he said, is getting used to his life being very public.

Luis Alves, the singer's adoptive father, calls his son "a blessing from God." Luis Alves of Framingham and his wife, Raquel Sousa of Clinton (the couple are separated) couldn't have children but wanted a son.

"Twenty-five years, me and a few brothers from church, we prayed to God, asking for a son. And, I told God his name would be Samuel, which means a request from the Lord," Luis Alves said.

"They rang my doorbell. It was raining. When I opened the door, there was a child in a cardboard box," Luis Alves said. "So the journey didn't start today. It started 25 years ago, when God answered all my prayers. And, here (gesturing toward his son), is the fruit of all my prayers."

Ilma Paixao, general manager of WSRO Radio 650 AM in Framingham (which sponsored the event), said Mr. Alves has a bright career ahead of him, and the radio station is proud it can bring his music to the Brazilian community in the state.

"It's always nice to see young people succeed, especially knowing that Sam is a young man who has been working on this for so many years, and he tried and he tried and he never gave up," Ms. Paixao said.

Mara Rubia Sanfilippo of Framingham is not only the president of the official Sam Alves fan club in the U.S., she has known him since he was 8 years old.

"In Brazil, they just love Sam. They vote for him. They buy the music. They spread the word and they are there for him," Ms. Sanfilippo said. "I am a fan of Sam Alves, the person, and I love Sam Alves, who is this great artist that we know. I am so proud."

Valeria Furtado of Natick was born in the same city as Mr. Alves and watched him the night he won in Brazil.